Plunger type pen



March I 28, 1933.

A: BIENENSTEIN PLUNGER TYPE PEN Filed July 1932 Patented Mar. 28, 1933UNITED STATES PATENT'VOFFICE ANDREAS BIENENSTEIN, or TOLEDO, OHIO,ASSIGNOR To THE CONKLIN TEN oom- PANY, F TOLEDO, 01110, A CORPORATION or01110 PLUNGER TYPE PEN Application filed July 5,

This invention relates to fountain pens and more particularly toimprovements in bulbless or plunger type fountain pens.

The invention has as one of its objects to simplify, render moreefiicient, and improve generally structures of this type.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fountain pen of thistype so constructed that it is capable of facile assembly. To

this end, I propose forming the barrel portion of the pen in twosections and to locate, at the parting line of the sections, means forengaging the stem of the reciprocable piston to permit relativelongitudinal movement of the piston without relative rotative movementthereof.

In the interests of economical manufacture,

my invention contemplates producing the piston rod from a flat striprolled or curled 29 to form a hollow tubular stem, the folded seam ofwhich constitutes a feather or key engageable in a key-way to permitlongitudinal sliding by non-rotative movement'of the piston.

by an improvedconstruction of connection between the piston and itspiston rod, the present invention moreover contemplating an improvedform of operating knob'and its connection with the pen barrel.

The several objects, advantages and novel details of construction ofseveral forms of the invention will be made more apparent as thisdescription proceeds, especially when considered in connection with theaccompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a sectional elevational view ofa fountain pen constructed in accordance with my invention; 7

Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional elevational View takensubstantially on the plane indicated by line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary separated sectional ,45 perspective view of thepen barrel sections with their associated parts at the parting linethereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional elevational View of the piston andpiston rod; Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a modified The object ofeconomy is further obtained 1932. Serial No. 620,960.

form of piston and stem prior to the completion of the assemblyoperation;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 after the parts have been completelyassembled, and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view through the knob andof the pen showing a slightly modified form of construction. a 7

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, it will be noted thatthe pencomprises a barrel consisting of two sections 10 and 11 which togetherpresent a tubular reservoir 12; The parting line of the barrel sections10 and 11 is shown as substantially midway between the ends of thepen'so thatwhen the sections are disconnected'the interior of the penbarrel and the mechanism therein contained is accessible. For joiningthe two barrel sections, one section thereof is provided with a reducedeXteriorly threaded por- 7 tion 13 with which an interiorly threadedportion 14 on the other barrel section engages, the construction beingsuch that the outer surfaces of the two barrel sections are flush whenthe barrel sections are completely assembled.

The pen is provided with the usual nibend section 15 which may be of anystandard or conventional design.

Reciprocably mounted in the reservoir 12 is a piston indicated generallyby the reference character 16, this piston being provided with a pistonrod or stem 17 operatively connected to a preferably steep pitchthreaded operating rod or member 18 swivelly mount- V ed in the end orthe pen barrel in a manner yet to be referred to in detail.

As shown probably best in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the piston stem or rod 17is formed from a flat strip which is curled or rolled to form thetubular stem, the edges of the strip being united by a seam 19. Thisseam projects beyond the cylindrical surface of the stem to form afeather or key, cooperating with a key-way formed in a supportingmember, yet .95 to be referred to, which supports the piston and stemfor longitudinal sliding movement but prevents relative rotativemovement thereof. If desired, the piston stem ,may beprovideddiagrammatically opposite fthe 9 seam 19 with a longitudinalextending rib or embossed portion 20 also constituting a feather or key.

The piston stem 17 at one end thereof is provided with a pair of opposedshort thread 1 sections 21 in the form of radially inwardly extendingprojections which may be conveniently pressed in the sheet metal stem.

The piston comprises essentially a piston ring 22 which is mounted on asleeve member 23, the latter being provided with a laterally extendingannular flange 4, a piston ring liner 2'5 being preferably interposedbetween the ring 22 and the flange 24, as illustrated in Fig. 4. It isto be noted that the seam 19 and the embossed portion 20 terminate shortof the end of the stem and thus provide shoulders 26 against which thesleeve 23 may engage. The end of the stem is provided with radiallyinwardly extending projections 27 at the proper helix angle to beengaged between threads 28 of a piston head 29. With this arrangement,the piston may be economically produced and assembled with facility.Arranged at the parting line of the barrel sections 10 and 11 is apiston stem guiding sleeve or member 30. This member is provided with apassage or opening 31 therethrough into which the piston stem 17 6X-tends, and with key-ways 32 opening into this passage with which thefeathers or keys 19 and 20 engage so as to mount the piston rod topermit relative sliding movement but to prevent rotary movement thereof.It is quite obvious, however, that only one key and key-way need beemployed, in which event one of the key-ways 32 would be eliminated andthe seam 19 would constitute the key.

The member 30 is provided with a reduced portion 33 having 'an'outsidediameter such as will fit snugly within the end of the barrel section10, this reduced portion being provided with one ormore radiallyoutwardly extending projections 34 which engage in correspondinglyshaped recesses 35 in the ends of the barrel section 10, tonon-rotatively associate the sleeve member 30 with this barrel section10. The remainder of the member 30 is provided with a portion 36 ofgreater diameter but of a diameter to fit snugly within the end of thebarrel section 11, the end face 37 of this member 30 being engaged by aradially inwardly extending shoulder 38 on the barrel section 11 whenthe sections are screwed together.

In assembling the parts, the sleeve member 7 30 will be inserted in theend of the barrel v section 10 with the projections 34 thereof engagedin the slots or recesses 35. Thereafter when the barrel sectionll isassembled, the projecting portion 36 acts as a pilot to guide and alinethe section 11 with respect I to the section 10 and when the barrelsection 11 has been fully screwed into place the annular shoulders 38formed on the inner surbe quicklyand easily assembled and by rea- 7 sonof this construction the remaining portions of the pen may also bequickly and easily assembled. I

The operating or screw member 18 is preferably in the form of a hollowrod member having a steep pitch thread rolled therein. The screw member18 is swivelly mounted in the end of the barrel section 11 by means of aferrule 39 threaded into the ends of the barrel. The operating screw 18is provided with a shoulder 40, a washer 41 being preferably interposedbetween the shoulder 40'and the adjacent face of the ferrule. Thereduced end portion 42 on the operating member extends into a recess ina knob member 43, a washer 44 being interposed between the ferrule 39.and an extension 45 on the knob member. The knob is secured to theoperating member by means of a pin 46. Thus the operating member isswivelly mounted in the end of. the barrel and by rotating'the knobmember 43 the screw or operating member 18may be rotated, whereupon thethreads thereof engaging the threads 21 on'the piston rod produce alongitudinal movement of the piston rod as. will be apparent, theseparts telescoping during. the movement of the piston to the right, asviewed in Figure 1.

While in the construction of the knob end just described the knob isprovided with the extension 45 which projects into the barrel themodified form of'construction shown in Figure 7 may be employed in-whichthe operating parts are carried up into the knob.

In this form of construction the ferrule 47 is more elongated and,projects-beyond the end of the barrel section 11 and engages in a recess48 in the knob 49. Thus the knob rotates on the projecting end of theferrule instead of having a portion rotating within the barrel. In otherrespects this construction is similar to that just previously describedbut it will be obvious thatthe length of the pen maybe reduced or themovement of the parts increased. 7

In Figures 5 and 6 I have shown a modified means of piston constructionand of the connection between thestem andthe piston.

In thisconstruction the piston ring is indicated by the'referencecharacter 5'0,this ring being mounted on a sleeve 51 provided with alaterally extending annular flange 52 which engages the sleeve likepiston ring 50 at one end thereof. In assembling this. form ofconstruction a cup-shaped member 53 provided with a laterally outwardlyextending flange 54 is assembled with the sleeve 51 and piston ring assuggested in Figure 5, and this assembly is engaged with the end of thetubular piston stem 55, the end of the piston stem engaging in anannular recess or groove 56 formed in the cup-shaped member 53. With theparts assembled as shown in Figure 5, the groove portion 56 of the cupmember together with the end of the stem 55 engaged therein is flared orbent radially outwardly, as shown at 56, into engagement with theannular flange 52 of the sleeve 51, as clearly indicated in Figure 6.This rigidly unites the piston stem 55 with the cup-shaped member 53 andthe engagement between the flared portion 56 and the flange 52 holds theassembly consisting of the sleeve 51 and piston ring 50 in engagementwith the flange 54 so that the piston and piston stem assembly iscomplete. This provides an extremely economical and eifioient pistonconstruction which eliminates the need for threaded parts.

Obvious modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in thisart, and to this end reservation is made to make such changes as maycome within the purview of the accompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a fountain pen, a barrel portion presenting a tubular reservoir, apiston reciprocable in said reservoir, said barrel being formed in twosections, and means nonrotatively associated with the interior of theends of the barrel sections at the parting line of the sections andconcealed thereby for slidably and non-rotatably mounting said piston. V

2. In a fountain pen, the combination with a barrel portion formed intwo sections and presenting a reservoir, of a piston and stemreciprocable therein, and means having a telescoping non-rotatableconnection with said barrel sections at the parting line thereof andengaging said piston rod to permit relative sliding movement of saidpiston without relative rotation thereof.

3. In a fountain pen, a barrel portion presenting a tubular reservoir, apiston reciprocable in said reservoir, and a piston stem therefor formedof a strip rolled into tubular form with the edges folded to form a seamconstituting a longitudinal key, and a sleeve member fixed in saidbarrel adapted to slidably receive said stem, said sleeve being providedwith a key-way to receive said key.

4. In a fountain pen, the combination with a barrel portion formed intwo sections and presenting a reservoir, of a piston and stemreciprocable therein, a sleeve member having a reduced end portionfitted within the end of one of said barrel sections together with aradial projection engaging a slot in the end of the barrel section tonon-rotatively connect .reciprocable therein, and a member engageable inthe open end of one of said barrel sections and secured in place byengagement with the other barrel section when said sections areassembled, said member engaging the piston stem to slidably andnon-rotatably support the piston. V i

6. In a fountain pen, the combination with a barrel portion formed intwo sections and presenting a reservoir, of a piston and stemreciprocabletherein, a sleeve member having a reduced end portion fittedwithin the end of one of said barrel sections, said reduced portionforming a shoulder engaging the end face of said barrel section, and ashoulder on the inner surface of the other barrel section engaging theopposite end of said sleeve member when the barrel sections areassembled, for the purpose set forth.

7. In a fountain pen, abarrel formed in two sections unitedsubstantially midway of the ends of the barrel, a sleeve memberdetachably and non-rotatively associated with said barrel sections atthe parting line thereof, a piston and a pistonstem, a longitudinal keyformed on said stem, said sleeve member being formed with a passage andkeyway to receive said piston stem and key to slidably and nonrotativelymount said piston.

8. In a fountain pen, a barrel formed in two sections provided withtelescoping threaded parts at the parting line thereof, a threadedoperating member swivelly mounted in the free end of one of said barrelsections, a piston reciprocable in the other barrel section, a pistonstem therefor, a telescoping threaded connection between said stem andoperating member, a sleeve member detachably and non rotativelyassociated with said barrel sections at the parting line thereof, a keyon said stem, and a passage provided with a key-way extending throughsaid sleeve member to slidably and non-rotatively receive said pistonstem. I

9. In a fountain pen, a piston, atubular stem therefor, said pistoncomprising a sleeve provided with a radial abutment at one end, a pistonring on said sleeve with an end thereof engaging said abutment, acup-shaped member provided with a radial abutment at one end insertablethrough said sleeve with said abutment engaging the other end of saidpiston ring, an annular groove in said cupshaped member in which the endof said tubular stem engages, said groove portion being a bent radiallyoutwardly into engagement with said sleeve abutment to secure said stemthereto and rigidly'unite the parts. I

10. In a fountain pen, a barrel open at one end, a ferrule member'threadedly engaging Within the open end of said barrel and having aportion projecting beyond the end of the barrel, a threaded operatingmember having a reduced end portion forming a shoulder, said reducedportion extending through the projecting portion of said ferrule Withthe shoulder engaging said ferrule, an operating 'knob having a recessinto which said projecting ferrule portion extends, said knob beingsecuredto the end of said operating member and engaging the side of saidferrule opposite said shoulder, as and for the purpose set forth. Intestimony whereof I affix my signature.

ANDREAS BIENENSTEIN.

